B i o g r a p h y
Morgan Southard is a theatre educator, director, arts administrator, and coach who offers her services to students and spaces around the country, both online and in person. Since January 2024, she has served as the Education Programs Manager for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, a multimillion-dollar non-profit organization. Here she spearheads the development, implementation, and logistics for the School of Theatre Training, Conservatory, and EducationStage programs. She is also the creator of Spotlight Strategies, a digital storefront for theatre curriculum.
Morgan graduated cum laude in 2007 with her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville, completed her MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University in 2010, and has been working professionally ever since. A Dallas-area native, Morgan got her industry start as an actor, appearing in over a dozen productions from 2010-2013 at venues such as Circle Theatre, Stage West, WaterTower Theatre, and the Trinity Shakespeare Festival.
In 2013, Morgan made the pivot to theatre education when she was hired at what is now known as North Texas Performing Arts (NTPA), the state’s largest non-profit youth theatre. She advanced to the senior staff role of Creative Director in 2018, where she provided artistic support and development to a team of Resident Directors. During her time at NTPA, she directed 8+ productions per year, served as Director of Education, and took NTPA’s inaugural troupe to the Junior Theatre Festival.
In the fall of 2021, Morgan and her husband Cesar relocated to North Carolina with their animal children. Here she has served in many capacities, including Theatre Instructor at Shaw University and Arts Programs Coordinator for the High Point Arts Council. Morgan has also loved getting to know the Triad theatre community, working with spaces like Spring Theatre in Winston-Salem and Studio 1 in Burlington. Recently, her 2023 production of Disaster! at Studio 1 took home the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Musical in the Raleigh region, a project she both directed and music directed.
During her professional career, Morgan has had the fortune to direct and/or perform in over 50+ productions, with some of her favorites being Boeing-Boeing, Macbeth, Arms and the Man, The Addams Family, Big Fish, Pippin, Newsies, A Little Night Music, Cabaret, Twelfth Night, and Urinetown. She established her private acting and vocal coaching studio in 2013. Morgan is a member of VASTA, MTEA, TCG, and EdTA. Additional training includes time spent with masks and puppets at Les Subsistence in Leon, France, extensive workshops on boundaries and consent with Theatrical Intimacy Education, and certification as a One Voice Coach. You can find out more about Morgan and her current projects at www.morgansouthard.com.
Former Student Placements
Morgan’s students can be found in local and professional theatres, TV/Film, and top-ranking collegiate theatre programs around the nation. Her former students are have worked as professionals and/or pursued degrees at:
Broadway: Hell's Kitchen
National & Global Tours: Jagged Little Pill, Water for Elephants, Chicago, The Sound of Music (Global Tour)
Regional Theatre: Tuacahn Amphitheatre
Cruise Lines: Disney Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Cruises
Collegiate BFA Theatre Programs: Brigham Young University, Chapman University, Coastal Carolina University, Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University, Missouri State University, New York University - Tisch, Oklahoma City University, Pace University, Slippery Rock University, University of Oklahoma, and Viterbo University
